But the native of Cranbrook, B.C., knows what it’s like to try and capture the hearts of hockey-mad Canadians.

On Tuesday, Hockey Canada announced Renney’s appointment as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer — hardly a shocker, given the news was leaked about 24 hours earlier.

His new post with the national institution comes a decade after helping guide the Canadian juniors to gold, 15 years after serving as a Hockey Canada vice-president and two decades after he was head coach of the men’s national team which captured silver at the Olympic Winter Games.

“It’s absolutely a privilege,” Renney told reporters. “I’ve done a lot of wonderful things in the game. Without a doubt, I’ve had a lot of great support throughout my career. Nothing will come close to today.”

As Hockey Canada’s president and CEO, Renney will oversee all elements of the organization, including hockey development programs, high performance programs, corporate sales, events and marketing, licensing, insurance and regulations, membership services, operations and communications.

“My mandate has always been about developing — not just the players but the people around the game,” Renney told reporters. “That’s part of my DNA — I’m proud of that.

“I want to pay particular attention to development, I want to pay particular attention to grassroots hockey. I want people to participate in the game for the right reasons, and that means doing the right thing.

“Little people have to want to play this game, older people have to want to continue to play it, and, when you get to that great old age of whatever it is, you want to play it as a lifetime sport.”

Renney, 59, comes to Hockey Canada with a wealth of hockey experience at both the international and professional levels. He served as vice-president of hockey operations with Hockey Canada from 1997-99, also coaching Canada to a silver medal at the ’99 IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championships. He also served as head coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team from ’92-94, capturing a silver medal at the ’94 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

An associate coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14, Renney also served as a head coach with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers from ’10-12, New York Rangers from ’04-09 and Vancouver Canucks in 1996-97. During his NHL coaching career, Renney continued to maintain ties to the national program, serving as an assistant coach at both the 2004 and ’05 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal (’04) and silver medal (’05).

Prior to coaching at the national and professional levels, Renney was the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers from 1990-92, leading the team to a 101-37-6 record. His .714 winning percentage ranks as the all-time best in Canadian Hockey League history. Under his guidance, the Blazers captured two WHL championships and the ’92 Memorial Cup.

Tom and his wife, Glenda, have two daughters, Jessica and Jamie.

“This is not only an honour for myself, but it is all that and more for my family,” Renney said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be joining this great organization. I am excited to dedicate my efforts to grassroots, development and high performance hockey with a volunteer base second to none in the world.”

Renney takes over for Bob Nicholson, who served as president and CEO at Hockey Canada from 1998 to 2014.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am thrilled with the addition of Tom Renney as Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer,” added Jim Hornell, chairman of the Hockey Canada board of directors. “It was a very thorough process, and we were overwhelmed by the quality of the candidates interested in leading Hockey Canada going forward.

“In Tom, we have an individual with great experience at all levels of the game, as well as a strong passion for hockey development. Tom understands and has demonstrated the value of teamwork and capacity building. We are confident his leadership will be essential in working with staff, volunteers, participants, partners and sponsors in facing the challenges ahead for our organization, from grassroots through to our national programs.”

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